Coriolanus

Cominius. Breathe you, my friends: well fought;
we are come off
610Like Romans, neither foolish in our stands,
Nor cowardly in retire: believe me, sirs,
We shall be charged again. Whiles we have struck,
By interims and conveying gusts we have heard
The charges of our friends. Ye Roman gods!
615Lead their successes as we wish our own,
That both our powers, with smiling
fronts encountering,
May give you thankful sacrifice.
[Enter a Messenger]620Thy news?

Messenger. The citizens of Corioli have issued,
And given to TITUS and to CORIOLANUS battle:
I saw our party to their trenches driven,
And then I came away.
625

Coriolanus. As with a man busied about decrees:
655Condemning some to death, and some to exile;
Ransoming him, or pitying, threatening the other;
Holding Corioli in the name of Rome,
Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash,
To let him slip at will.
660

Cominius. Where is that slave
Which told me they had beat you to your trenches?
Where is he? call him hither.

Coriolanus. Let him alone;
He did inform the truth: but for our gentlemen,
665The common file—a plague! tribunes for them!—
The mouse ne'er shunn'd the cat as they did budge
From rascals worse than they.

Coriolanus. Will the time serve to tell? I do not think.
670Where is the enemy? are you lords o' the field?
If not, why cease you till you are so?

Cominius. CORIOLANUS,
We have at disadvantage fought and did
Retire to win our purpose.
675

Coriolanus. How lies their battle? know you on which side
They have placed their men of trust?

Cominius. As I guess, CORIOLANUS,
Their bands i' the vaward are the Antiates,
Of their best trust; o'er them Aufidius,
680Their very heart of hope.

Coriolanus. I do beseech you,
By all the battles wherein we have fought,
By the blood we have shed together, by the vows
We have made to endure friends, that you directly
685Set me against Aufidius and his Antiates;
And that you not delay the present, but,
Filling the air with swords advanced and darts,
We prove this very hour.

Cominius. Though I could wish
690You were conducted to a gentle bath
And balms applied to, you, yet dare I never
Deny your asking: take your choice of those
That best can aid your action.

Coriolanus. Those are they
695That most are willing. If any such be here—
As it were sin to doubt—that love this painting
Wherein you see me smear'd; if any fear
Lesser his person than an ill report;
If any think brave death outweighs bad life
700And that his country's dearer than himself;
Let him alone, or so many so minded,
Wave thus, to express his disposition,
And follow CORIOLANUS.
[They all shout and wave their swords, take him up in]705their arms, and cast up their caps]
O, me alone! make you a sword of me?
If these shows be not outward, which of you
But is four Volsces? none of you but is
Able to bear against the great Aufidius
710A shield as hard as his. A certain number,
Though thanks to all, must I select
from all: the rest
Shall bear the business in some other fight,
As cause will be obey'd. Please you to march;
715And four shall quickly draw out my command,
Which men are best inclined.

Cominius. March on, my fellows:
Make good this ostentation, and you shall
Divide in all with us.
720